Laser hair removal utilizes a laser beam to vaporize hair follicles, producing small plumes of smoke with an unpleasant sulfur smell. Your laser treatment could last from several minutes up to an hour.
Laser hair removal is usually considered cosmetic surgery and therefore not covered by insurance companies. Your physician may advocate on your behalf in some instances to secure coverage; in such instances they should do their utmost to get coverage approved.
Medically Necessary
If your hair growth is caused by an illness and impacting your quality of life, insurance may cover its removal with laser therapy. Your condition must be serious enough that a physician deems treatment necessary in order to alleviate symptoms.
Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles that leads to red bumps that resemble acne. It’s typically brought on by shaving, waxing and tweezing, hormones or medications (birth control pills for example), shaving trauma as well as shaving scarring or discoloration; laser hair removal offers an effective means to both treat folliculitis as well as to prevent future outbreaks.
Laser hair removal is an FDA-approved, safe procedure. It’s quick, can be done on any part of the body, and patients find it relatively painless. Multiple sessions should be scheduled four to six week apart until desired results have been reached; depending on the color and thickness of your hair you may require different forms of laser treatments for maximum effectiveness.
Laser hair removal costs vary based on the body area being treated, surgeon fees and geographical location. While it’s typically not covered by health insurance plans, you could inquire with your provider to see if they offer payment plans or flexible spending accounts as payment alternatives. Alternatively, long-term financing options like credit cards or loans may also be considered, although their interest rates must be monitored to avoid falling into debt.
Even if your medical condition doesn’t qualify for insurance coverage, laser hair removal remains an effective and affordable way to enhance your appearance. As it provides an alternative to traditional methods, laser hair removal may give you confidence that will allow you to feel beautiful again. Before making a decision about laser hair removal, speak with a licensed medical aesthetician; Spring Street Dermatology’s team of dermatologists are more than willing to discuss all available treatments with you and provide the highest level of care for you and your skin.
Medically Unnecessary
Private health insurance plans typically do not cover laser hair removal as a cosmetic treatment; however, in certain rare instances it may be medically necessary for treating certain health conditions – for instance PCOS which causes excessive hair growth (hirsutism).
Finding an experienced provider who can assist in filing your insurance claim for laser hair removal can be the first step toward coverage. A physician certified as a laser specialist may provide your best chance for approval; payment plans and working directly with insurance providers should also help to make sure coverage is accepted.
Laser hair removal sessions use pulses of light that target each individual hair follicle, producing minimal pain during treatment that won’t last long. Shaving is recommended prior to your session so the laser can detect and eliminate hair follicles effectively from the skin’s surface; waxing or plucking hair from these areas could interfere with its effectiveness and hinder results.
After your treatment, it may be recommended to apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and redness in the area, which should subside within hours. You should also try to stay out of direct sunlight on any areas that were treated and use sunscreen with at least SPF30 protection whenever going outside to protect those treated from exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Laser hair removal should always be undertaken under the guidance of a board-certified doctor with extensive knowledge in both laser technology and skin science. According to the AAD, only get treatments from licensed, board-certified doctors.
Pre-Existing Condition
Laser hair removal is an efficient and painless solution for unwanted body hair on the face, neck, arms, legs and bikini line. Lasers disrupt the growth cycle to cause thinner and slower regrowth; while its discomfort levels tend to be lower than waxing or shaving methods. Multiple sessions should be scheduled four to six week apart in order to reach maximum effectiveness.
Laser hair removal may be covered by insurance in certain instances if used to treat an existing medical condition, such as folliculitis. Folliculitis causes red bumps around hair follicles and is caused when they become blocked or irritated – for instance by shaving with an old razor or waxing. Though there are medications available that treat the condition temporarily or long term solutions available such as laser therapy; laser therapy offers more permanent solutions.
However, most private insurance companies do not cover laser hair removal as a medically necessary procedure. If you’re undertaking the treatment for an existing condition or as part of a preexisting treatment program, be sure to speak to both your doctor and insurance provider to get more guidance before beginning treatment. You may also consider checking with the state insurance department on guidelines they may offer regarding coverage of procedures like this under their policy.
Select a qualified, licensed physician when selecting a laser hair removal treatment provider. When it comes to treating your specific skin type, look for doctors that have extensive experience treating that skin type as opposed to spas or salons with nonmedical staff providing laser hair removal treatments. Ask the facility if they have worked with your specific type of skin prior to consulting; be sure to discuss costs and schedule during consultations.
Before commencing with laser hair removal, it’s essential that your skin be prepared. You should limit sun exposure and apply lotions. In addition, avoid shaving, plucking and waxing as these activities could compromise laser treatments. It is wise to refrain from tanning beds since tanned skin may be more susceptible to laser treatment than untanned skin; additionally, wear high SPF sunscreen when venturing outdoors.
Medically Ineligible
If you suffer from acne or psoriasis, laser hair removal may be covered under your health insurance plan as part of treatment for these underlying skin conditions. However, it’s important to keep in mind that laser is not the only way to address them – an intensive Pulsed Light (IPL) machine may reduce symptoms more effectively at a fraction of the cost compared with professional laser treatments in clinics or saloons.
Many people turn to laser hair removal as an alternative to shaving or waxing, which aren’t considered permanent solutions for unwanted hair growth. Laser light works differently from shaving; rather than only taking out part of a hair follicle’s tip like shaving does, laser light destroys all follicles so no new hair grows back ever again – potentially qualifying this treatment as medically necessary if your medical conditions like psoriasis, acne, or rosacea worsened by unwanted hair growth – make this treatment permanent.
As part of their treatment plans for skin conditions, some insurers might include laser hair removal as part of a plan for treating folliculitis, an infection caused by hair build-up in skin pores, or hirsutism (an overgrowth of hair in certain parts of your body), as these conditions tend to be associated with poor hygiene practices and become infectious when infected. When this happens, folliculitis spreads easily to other parts of the body and becomes harder to treat than before.
Although most insurance providers don’t consider laser hair removal a medically necessary treatment, you may still try to have it covered through your flexible spending account or by using a cash-back credit card to offset its costs.
Remember that laser hair removal requires multiple sessions for optimal results, depending on your skin and hair type. On average, four to six treatment sessions in four-to-6 week intervals may be necessary depending on each person; it’s wise to inquire from your physician as to what the total costs will be before beginning this journey; this way you can prepare financially without unexpected bills at the end.
